(No. 330 - November 4, 2011 - 11:15 a.m. ET) The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, today welcomed the growing and forward-looking relationship developing between Canada and India through education linkages. In addition to meeting India’s Minister of Human Resources Development Kapil Sibal and representatives from the University of Alberta, Ryerson University and Carleton University, Minister Fast also witnessed the signing of agreements between Carleton University and both TERI and Symbiosis International universities in India.

“Education is at the heart of economic growth and prosperity in today’s knowledge-based economy,” said Minister Fast. “Strengthening Canada’s people-to-people ties in high-growth, priority markets and expanding the delivery of Canadian knowledge and expertise around the world via partnerships between Canadian and international education institutions contribute to economic growth and prosperity in India and Canada alike.”

The Memorandums of Understanding signed between Carleton University and TERI and Symbiosis International universities will establish the exchange of an unlimited number of undergraduate and graduate students and provide opportunities for the exchange of expertise and practical experience in the areas of technology management, alternative energy, economics, public policy and engineering.

“Canada and India will achieve strong progress in a globalized world by sharing the expertise and talents of our brilliant faculty and students,” said Roseann O’Reilly Runte, Carleton’s President and Vice-Chancellor.

While in Delhi, Minister Fast also attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new office of the International Language Schools of Canada (ILSC), which is partially funded through a grant program administered by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. This is the first time a Canadian school has delivered Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) training in India. The objective of the program is to standardize the training available to English teachers and to ensure consistent, quality instruction.

“Our government is proud to assist schools in India in achieving meaningful and practical results in education,” said Minister Fast. “Through Canada’s long history of collaboration with India and the excellence of our educational programs and institutions, we are helping hard-working people become better educated and, by extension, more prosperous.”

On October 13, 2011, Minister Fast and the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, announced the formation of an expert advisory panel to make recommendations to the government on how to develop and implement an international education strategy as part of the next phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan.

“Education has always been key to improving people’s livelihoods,” said Richard Novek, ILSC’s Director of Operations. “Our ultimate goal, along with offering special programs for young women, is to help Indians to secure jobs to better their quality of life and that of their families. The Government of Canada was instrumental in helping us to attain this objective.”

The ILSC in Delhi is modelled on ILSC’s schools in Toronto and Vancouver, which provide certification for teachers of English. The ILSC received funding through Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada’s Investment Cooperation Program. For further information about the program, please consult: Investment Cooperation Program (INC).